Exploring Clark Gable’s Five Marriages: A Look into the King of Hollywood’s Love Life
Clark Gable and his wife Maria Langham, Clark Gable and Carole Lombard.
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NEED TO KNOW
- Golden age star Clark Gable was married five times.
- His most famous wife was Carole Lombard, and their relationship inspired both books and a movie.
- Gable was married to Kay Williams when he died at age 59 in 1960.
As one of Old Hollywood’s leading men, Clark Gable was often associated with a series of prominent actresses. Married five times throughout his 59 years, he spent nearly half his life as a husband. “I consider women a real and vital part of my life,” Gable stated in an interview with Modern Screen in 1931.
Gable’s first marriage was to drama coach Josephine Dillon in 1924, and the couple remained together until their divorce in 1930. Shortly after, he remarried Maria “Ria” Franklin.
Although Gable’s marriage to Franklin lasted eight years—his longest relationship—it was marred by allegations of infidelity. Loretta Young’s authorized autobiography, Forever Young: The Life, Loves, and Enduring Faith of a Hollywood Legend, claims that Gable fathered her daughter, Judy Lewis, in secret. Gable never publicly acknowledged her as his child.
Gable’s most renowned romance was with his third wife, Carole Lombard. They wed in 1939, shortly after Gable divorced Franklin. Their happiness was tragically cut short in January 1942 when Lombard died in a plane crash.
Gable remained single for seven years before marrying Sylvia Ashley in 1949. The couple divorced in 1952, after which Gable married Kay Williams in 1955. The two had a son, John Clark Gable, and remained together until Gable’s death in 1960.
To better understand Gable’s romantic life, we delve into the stories of his five wives and the dynamics of their relationships with the iconic actor.
Josephine Dillon
Clark Gable, Josephine Dillon.
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Gable’s first wife, actress and drama coach Josephine Dillon, was 17 years his senior. According to The New York Times, the couple met when Gable was performing with a theater troupe in Portland, Oregon, and he was also her pupil.
In a 1931 interview with Modern Screen, Gable reflected on their relationship: “She gave me something that I had never had before … a constant love and inspiration.” Dillon significantly influenced his early career, coaching him after they relocated to Los Angeles in 1924.
Married in Hollywood that same year, the couple divorced after five years. Although their divorce was finalized on April 1, 1930, court documents indicate a judgment was reached in March 1929.
Gable reportedly insisted that their age gap did not cause their split. “I am not sure whether they mean to imply that I was too young … or that Josephine was older than I,” he remarked. “I don’t think age has anything to do with the duration of marriage. It has a much deeper foundation.” However, he indicated a willingness to accept most of the blame for their breakup.
Dillon was reticent about the reasons for their divorce but described Gable as “moody, thoughtful and gloomy,” according to The New York Times.
Maria “Ria” Franklin
Clark Gable and his wife Maria Langham on March 2, 1934 in New York.
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Gable’s second wife, Maria “Ria” Franklin, was also an actress and over a decade older than him. Although details about how they met vary, Gable and Franklin married on June 19, 1931, according to The New York Times.
In an interview, Gable noted similarities between Franklin and Dillon, stating, “In both cases I married women who come up to the standards I have set for what I call my ideal woman.” During their marriage, Gable’s career soared, winning an Oscar for It Happened One Night in 1935. Nonetheless, their relationship deteriorated.
According to Franklin’s separation filing, their split stemmed not from infidelity but “Mr. Gable’s temperament.” During this tumultuous period, Gable’s alleged daughter Judy Lewis was born to Loretta Young, adding further strain to his marriage.
Gable announced intentions to seek a divorce in December 1938, and Franklin officially filed on March 4, 1939, citing desertion as the grounds.
Carole Lombard
Carole Lombard and Clark Gable grin for photographers following their return to Hollywood from their recent, surprise marriage in Kingman, AZ. They are shown at Miss Lombard’s home.
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Gable’s third marriage to Carole Lombard is often regarded as the great love of his life, inspiring numerous artistic works, including the 1976 film Gable and Lombard.
The couple first appeared together in the 1932 film No Man of Her Own. However, author Warren G. Harris noted that the two initially held a mutual disdain for one another, with Gable irritated by Lombard’s boisterous nature and Lombard dismissive of Gable’s serious demeanor.
When they crossed paths again at a social event in 1936, an awkward interaction ensued, but Lombard extended an olive branch by sending doves as a peace offering. Their relationship blossomed from there.
They wed on March 29, 1939, in a simple ceremony in Kingman, Arizona, just after Gable’s divorce from Franklin was finalized. They retreated to a ranch in the San Fernando Valley, where they cultivated dreams of raising a family.
Tragically, their hopes were dashed when Lombard died in a plane crash on January 16, 1942, while returning home from a war bond tour. Gable was never able to reconcile this profound loss, affirming in a 1957 interview his respect for her and the impact she had on his life.
Lady Sylvia Ashley
Clark Gable and Lady Sylvia Ashley continuing their wedding at their ranch in 1949 in Solvang, California.
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Following Lombard’s death, Gable remained single for seven years until he met Lady Sylvia Ashley at an agent’s party in 1949. They married on December 20 of that year, near Santa Barbara, California, as reported by The New York Times.
Details about their two-year marriage remain sparse, but Ashley ultimately filed for divorce on April 21, 1952. In court, she claimed Gable expressed a desire for freedom, stating, “I wish to get free. I don’t want to be married to you or anyone else.” Ashley later remarked she was unaware of any issues leading to their separation until the divorce proceedings.
Kay Williams
Kay Williams and American actor Clark Gable attend the premiere of ‘The Spirit of St Louis’, held at Grauman’s Egyptian Theatre in Los Angeles, California, 11th April 1957.
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Gable’s final marriage was to Kay Williams, a star of Thirty Seconds Over Tokyo. In her 1961 memoir, Clark Gable: A Personal Portrait, she revealed their relationship began when Gable simply called her on the phone.
Starting as friends, Williams noted their bond developed over time, blossoming into a courtship. They married privately in Minden, Nevada, on July 12, 1955, as noted by The New York Times.
Despite a heart health scare for Williams one year into their marriage, it was Gable who ultimately succumbed to a cardiac ailment. He passed away on November 16, 1960, just four months before the birth of their first child on March 20, 1961. His death occurred while Williams was asleep across the hall.
